Germany to decide soon on Afghan troop withdrawal pace

KABUL (AFP) - German Defence Minister Thomas de Maiziere said on Monday on a visit to Afghanistan that his government would decide in the coming days on the next steps in withdrawing troops from the country.

Mr De Maiziere told a press conference with his Afghan counterpart Bismullah Khan Mohammadi that the cabinet would agree "within the next week" on troop levels during the drawdown over the next two years.

"First of all the redeployment of our troops until the end of 2014 will be reliable, sufficient and sustainable," said Mr De Maiziere, who was on his 10th visit to the country as defence minister.